ISLAMABAD, NOV 11 (APP/DNA): Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Tuesday called for political consensus on empowering local bodies, saying the move is in the interest of the Pakistani people.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, he said democracy cannot function without devolving power to the grassroots level. “Without such devolution, neither a democratic society nor a truly democratic system can exist,” he added.
Referring to the 18th Amendment, Khawaja Asif criticized the failure to implement its devolution promises.
“Despite the amendment’s calling on transferring power to local representatives real authority remains concentrated in major cities like Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar,” he said.
He said that past leaders, including Ayub Khan, Zia-ul-Haq, and Pervez Musharraf, had introduced local government systems, but meaningful power reaches the grassroots only when there is political will to enforce it.
The minister highlighted that strengthening local governments would ease the provincial budget burden and allow local authorities to levy taxes such as water charges or commercial levies, benefiting public administration.
Khawaja Asif stressed that devolving powers would enable district and city governments to manage tax collection, run health and education departments, and ensure accountability at the grassroots level.
He urged all political parties to reach consensus on local government reforms, arguing that only a truly empowered local governance structure can strengthen Pakistan’s democracy, improve public services, and ensure accountability to the people.
